Award Season Contenders Including Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Steve Carell, Jessica Chastain, Benedict Cumberbatch, Robert Downey Jr., Michael Keaton, Eddie Redmayne, Emma Stone, Christoph Waltz and Shailene Woodley in Conversation with Times Writers

NEW YORK & LOS ANGELES — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 20, 2014 — The Los Angeles Times and EPIX have joined forces to co-produce “Hollywood Sessions,” a new series featuring 2014’s biggest film stars and potential award contenders in unguarded conversation with Times writers. The first of the series’ hour-long episodes will debut on premium entertainment network EPIX on December 8 at 8pm ET/PT, with encore presentations airing throughout awards season. “Hollywood Sessions” will be executive produced by Embassy Row’s Michael Davies, creator of Bravo’s late-night phenomenon “Watch What Happens: Live” with Andy Cohen, AMC’s “The Talking Dead,” and Oxygen’s critically-acclaimed “The Glee Project.”

“As Hollywood’s hometown news source, the industry’s most talented and fascinating personalities have a unique relationship with The Times, and our entertainment events have helped lead the way to more than 250 Oscar nominations. Now, through our longstanding relationship with EPIX, we’ve created a really special show that will let our audiences enjoy our access in a compelling new way,” said Francie Berns, Times vice president, entertainment advertising. “Imagine you’ve wandered into a room at a fabulous cocktail party and find Jennifer Aniston, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Shailene Woodley sitting on the couch swapping stories with an L.A. Times reporter. That’s ‘Hollywood Sessions.’”

The series will air on EPIX and be available on latimes.com/theenvelope, EPIX.com, EPIX On Demand and via the EPIX app. Highlights will also be made available on all.

“‘Hollywood Sessions’ represents the next evolution of our relationship with the Los Angeles Times and The Envelope,” said Mark Greenberg, President & CEO, EPIX. “Consumers’ TV habits continue to change dramatically and through our ‘TV Everywhere,’ multi-platform approach, audiences will be able to experience these exclusive and intimate conversations wherever and whenever they want.”

Times film writers Rebecca Keegan and Mark Olsen will host the series of intimate conversations with the year’s most buzzed about actors, actresses and directors. The provocative, entertaining, and boisterous discussions will focus on the stars’ and filmmakers’ careers in the limelight, industry trends and how their acclaimed projects came to life.

The series schedule is as follows:

“HOLLYWOOD SESSIONS: LEAD ACTRESSES” (12/8 at 8pm ET/PT)

• Jennifer Aniston (“Cake”)
• Emily Blunt (“Into the Woods”)
• Jessica Chastain (“The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby,” “Interstellar,” “A Most Violent Year”)
• Gugu Mbatha-Raw (“Belle”)
• Shailene Woodley (“The Fault in Our Stars”)

“HOLLYWOOD SESSIONS: SUPPORTING ACTRESSES” (12/15 at 8pm ET/PT)

• Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”)
• Laura Dern (“Wild”)
• Emma Stone (“Birdman”)
• Tilda Swinton (“Snowpiercer”)

“HOLLYWOOD SESSIONS: SUPPORTING ACTORS” (12/22 at 8pm ET/PT)

• Josh Brolin (“Inherent Vice”)
• Edward Norton (“Birdman”)
• Mark Ruffalo (“Foxcatcher”)
• J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”)
• Christoph Waltz (“Big Eyes”)

“HOLLYWOOD SESSIONS: LEAD ACTORS” (12/29 at 8pm ET/PT)

• Steve Carell (“Foxcatcher”)
• Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Imitation Game”)
• Robert Downey Jr. (“The Judge”)
• Michael Keaton (“Birdman”)
• Eddie Redmayne (“The Theory of Everything”)

“HOLLYWOOD SESSIONS: DIRECTORS” (1/5 at 8pm ET/PT)

• J.C. Chandor (“A Most Violent Year”)
• Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”)
• James Marsh (“The Theory of Everything”)
• Bennett Miller (“Foxcatcher”)
• Jean-Marc Vallée (“Wild”)